Mount Baker (AE 34) - Naval Cruise Book

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Lieutenant Commander Robert L. Howard Executive Officer LCDR Robert L. Howard was born in Vinton, Iowa, in October of 1955. After attending Iowa State University under the Naval ROTC Program, he was awarded a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering, and was commissioned an Ensign in 1978. His initial duty assignment after commissioning was in USS WHITE PLAINS (APS 4), in Yokosuko, Japan, where he served as RASE Division Officer, Communications Officer, CIC Officer, Navigator, and Operations Officer. He was then assigned to the staff of the Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, from November 1 98 1 until October 1 983. While there, he was assigned to the Personnel and Manpower Division, and as a watch officer in the Fleet Command Center. After attending the Surface Warfare Officer School ' s department head course in Newport, R.I., he reported aboard USS KLAKRING (FFG 42) as Combat Systems Officer in August of 1984. He subsequently served as readiness officer and operations officer on the staff of the Commander, Destroyer Squadron Four, in Charleston, S.C, from July 1986 until April of 1988. In May of 1988, he assumed command of the Naval Reserve Center in Wilmington, N.C. While in command, he attended evening postgraduate school classes, and received a master ' s degree in business administration. LCDR Howard ' s decorations include the Navy Commendation Medal (three awards), the Navy Achievement Medal, the Navy Expeditionary Medal (five awards), the Humanitarian Service Medal (two awards), and other service awards. He is the son of Robert D. Howard of Jefferson, Iowa, and Eleanor M. Riemcke of Cushing, Minn. LCDR Howard is married to the former Sarah Crosby of Charleston, S.C. , and they have two daughters, Caroline and Elizabeth.

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Commander C.W. Neihart Former Commanding Officer

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USS MOUNT BAKER (AE 34) joined the fleet in July of 1972, and is one ofthe Navy ' s newest 7aL ea -class ammunition sliips. This modern class of auxiliary support ship has brought an increased capability for under- way fleet replenishment. With her advanced design replenishment facilities, MOUNT BAKER can more effectively accomplish the rapid transfer of ammunition and other cargo to fleet units at sea, The ship is 564 feet long and 8 1 feet wide. When fully loaded with 6,000 tons of ordnance cargo and 2,500 tons of fuel, MOUNT BAKER displaces 1 9,000 tons, and has a maximum draft of 28 feet. The ship is armed with four three-inch-fifty-caliber, rapid-fire guns in two twin mounts. MOUNT BAKER has berthing and messing accommodations for 28 officers and 399 enl isted personnel. During deployments, a helicopter support de- tachment and an explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) team are em- barked. This modern fleet ammunition ship is the second U.S. Navy ship to bear the name MOUNT BAKER. The first USS MOUNT BAKER was also an ammunition ship (AE 4), gallantly and honorably participating in the European and Pacific theaters during World War II, and also during the Korean and Vietnam Wars. She was stricken from the register in 1969. Both ships were named for one of the United States ' most recently active volcanoes. Mount Baker is a 10,778-foot peak in the Cascades Mountain Range in the state of Washington.